Discipleship Plan for 2012

 

Church/Town Name: First United Methodist Church in Columbus, Nebraska

 

OUR MISSION FIELD:  The city of Columbus is approximately 21,000 people. FUMC’s mission field is the city and nearby surrounding areas. A MissionInsite study was performed in 2009 projecting an increase in the study area population from 25,742 in 2008 to 26,105 in 2013. As population components, White is expected to decrease while Hispanic/Latino will increase. The community job base is industrial and agricultural. There is an exciting proposal for a new complex to include in one location a new middle school, YMCA, and health and other services. The first school bond issue vote failed, but there will likely be subsequent proposals.

 

VISION: To be a center for Christian growth and outreach.

 

  I.            COME – Invite people to church, its activities and a relationship with Christ.

 II.            GROW – develop as disciples in all six marks of Christian discipleship.

III.            WITH US – recognize that all, including long-time members have need and opportunity to grow.

 

a.       Be more intentional to encourage visitors and new members to join us in the Alpha course, Emmaus, Sunday School, Connect and Serve orientation, and other fellowship and small group opportunities.

b.      Host another Ministry Fair and find ways for better participation.

c.       Witness in worship regarding the benefits of Christian discipleship and growth in small groups.

 

a.       Make available optional opportunities to grow in each of the six marks (areas) of praying, worshiping, reading the Bible, serving, being in relationship, and giving of time, talents and resources. (These are taken from the book Power Surge: Six Marks of Discipleship for a Changing Church by Rev. Michael W. Foss – page 89.)

b.      Opportunities will be presented in all areas simultaneously, but we plan to initially focus on developing our prayer lives, and moving on from there.

c.       Start one or two new adult Sunday School classes.

 

a.       Communicate the idea that we current members also need to participate more in growth opportunities and then as a side benefit, we will be more able to invite new people to join in the growth.

b.      Improve our hospitality, especially considering the difficulties associated with the remodel project.

 

1)      Phase 2 - building remodel plan completed and approved

2)      Year-end is not here, but ministry shares were paid in full in 2010

3)      Concern: numbers of new members are not as many as in some recent years

a.      membership at ends of 2008-2010: 1,012; 1,041; 1,024;

b.      professions of faith steady during 2009 and 2010;

c.      net transfers changed from 25-in during 2009 to 19-out during 2010;

d.      although average worship attendance increased from 381 in 2009 to 392 in 2010.

4)      Subsequent to fourteen new ministries being formed in 2010, seven more were begun in 2011 as a result of Ministry Team support: additional praise worship service (three times), banner ministry, prayer shawl ministry, police chaplaincy, Stephen Ministry of caring, four Serendipity groups, and ministry fair. A more complete listing including the 2010 ministries can be found at http://www.columbusfumc.com/MinistryDevelopment.

 

1)      Phase 2 building remodel is completed

2)      All ministry shares paid

3)      Average worship attendance increases by 15 (about 4%)

4)      Implement ten new prayer opportunities

5)      Increase average adult Sunday School attendance by 10

6)      Increase support of Saturday night service (announcements, testimonies, special music, etc.)